Podcasts about Civil religion

Dr. Amy E. Black, Professor of Political Science at Wheaton College (IL) joined us to share ideas from her forthcoming book, Civil Religion and the Renewal of American Politics. Dr. Black rejects strict secularism and Christian nationalism, suggesting instead that an inclusive civil religion is the best model for the interplay of religion and politics in a pluralist democracy like the United States.Support the show

This is an audio version of an essay on my substack, Process This. The essay explores the evolving spiritual landscape of America, noting the decline of traditional religious institutions and the rise of new forms of meaning-making. Here, I examine how Donald Trump and the MAGA movement reflect a unique manifestation of a new civil religion, combining aspects of self-creation, positive thinking, and atavism. Historical context traces the roots of self-creation from Martin Luther's reforms through the Enlightenment and the rise of consumer capitalism. I highlight how Trump's persona and the MAGA movement resonate with American cultural consciousness, focusing on self-promotion, community, and opposition. It also explores the psychological and sociopolitical implications of this movement, the erosion of community, and the yearning for a mythological past, providing insights into the appeal and dangers of this modern spiritual-political fusion. I hope you enjoy it and consider supporting my work by joining 80k+ other people on Process This. If you want to read or watch the essay, you will find it here on SubStack. Resources: (Book) Self-Made: Creating Our Identities from Da Vinci to the Kardashians, Tara Isabella Burton (Book) The Expulsion of the Other: Society, Perception and Communication Today, Byung-Chul Han (Lecture) Self-Creation,  Tara Isabella Burton A Five-Week Online Lenten Class w/ John Dominic Crossan Join us for a transformative 5-week Lenten journey on "Paul the Pharisee: Faith and Politics in a Divided World."This course examines the Apostle Paul as a Pharisee deeply engaged with the turbulent political and religious landscape of his time. Through the lens of his letters and historical context, we will explore Paul's understanding of Jesus' Life-Vision, his interpretation of the Execution-and-Resurrection, and their implications for nonviolence and faithful resistance against empire. Each week, we will delve into a specific aspect of Paul's theology and legacy, reflecting on its relevance for our own age of autocracy and political turmoil. . For details and to sign-up for any donation, including 0, head over here. _____________________ Join our class - TRUTH IN TOUGH TIMES: Global Voices of Liberation This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hillsdale College professor Richard Gamble teaches a class on civic faith, and how American nationalism incorporated religious elements and symbolism during the Cold War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is America a nation Chosen by God? A New Jerusalem and Shining City on a Hill? What is the shape of Christian Nationalism today?Now 4 years past Jan 6, 2021 and anticipating the next term of presidential office, Yale professors Eliyahu Stern and Philip Gorski join Evan Rosa for a conversation about religion, politics, and the shape of Christian nationalism now.Together they discuss what religion really means in sociological and historical terms; the difference between religions of power and religions of law or morality; the American syncretism of pagan Christianity (perhaps captured in the Qnon Shaman with the horns and facepaint); the connection between nationalism and the desire to be a Chosen People; the supersessionism at the root of seeing the Christian conquest of America as a New Jerusalem; and how ordinary citizens come to adopt the tenets of Christian Nationalism.Eliyahu Stern is Professor of Modern Jewish Intellectual and Cultural History in the Departments of Religious Studies and History and his current project is entitled No Where Left to Go: Jews and the Global Right from 1977 to October 7.Philip Gorski is Frederick and Laura Goff Professor of Sociology at Yale University and is author of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy (with Samuel Perry) as well as American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present.Special thanks to our production assistant Zoë Halaban for pitching this conversation.About Eliyahu SternEliyahu Stern is Professor of Modern Jewish Intellectual and Cultural History in the Departments of Religious Studies and History. Previously, he was Junior William Golding Fellow in the Humanities at Brasenose College and the Oriental Institute, University of Oxford. He is the author of the award-winning, The Genius: Elijah of Vilna and the Making of Modern Judaism (Yale University Press in 2012). His second monograph Jewish Materialism: The Intellectual Revolution of the 1870s (Yale University Press, 2018) details the ideological background to Jews' involvement in Zionism, Capitalism, and Communism. His courses include The Global Right: From the French Revolution to the American Insurrection, Secularism: From the Enlightenment to the Present, Modern Jewish Intellectual History, The Holocaust in Culture and Politics. He has served as a term member on the Council on Foreign Relations and a consultant to the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland. Currently, he is a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Center of Jewish History.His latest project is entitled No Where Left to Go: Jews and the Global Right from 1977 to October 7.About Philip GorskiPhilip S. Gorski is a comparative-historical sociologist with strong interests in theory and methods and in modern and early modern Europe. He is Frederick and Laura Goff Professor of Sociology at Yale University. His empirical work focuses on topics such as state-formation, nationalism, revolution, economic development and secularization with particular attention to the interaction of religion and politics. Other current interests include the philosophy and methodology of the social sciences and the nature and role of rationality in social life. He's author with Samuel L. Perry of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy, as well as American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present.Show NotesTrump: “I'm a nationalist.”Increased ownership and proud identification as Christian NationalismEliyahu Stern, No Where Left to Go: Jews and the Global Right from 1977 to October 7The human practice of religion“ The way one person will invoke Christianity will be something very different than say the way a church or the way another person or another religious figure is going to invoke that term.”Humility and a leap“ The History of the Sacred from Babylon to Beyoncé”Religion vs “The Sacred””Western nationalism itself is, the offspring of a Christian supersessionist appropriation of Judaism.”“A new chosen people”The Deep Story Philip Gorski tells in The Flag and the CrossPagan understandings of nationalism“The Deep Story runs something like this. America was founded as a Christian nation. The founders were Orthodox Christians. The founding documents were based on quote, biblical principles or perhaps even divinely inspired. The United States has a special role to play. In history as an exceptional or chosen nation in order to carry out that mission, it's been blessed with unique power and prosperity. But the project, the mission, and also the prosperity and the power are all increasingly endangered by the presence of non-whites, non-native born people, non-Christians on American soil.”Covenantal logicThe tendency to see oneself as “Chosen”England, Netherlands claiming the mantle of Chosenness for political purposes“Jews are sitting around the world and they're trying to figure out how to unchosen themselves.”Supersessionism and the interpretation of the Old TestamentThe Promised Land Story: American ConquestThe Exemplary Story: A Shining City on a HillHow do we gather and absorb political narratives like Christian Nationalism?How is Christian Nationalism passed on?Larger network of international Christian NationalismsThe Arms Race or Game of Thrones that Nationalisms assumeRussian Christian Nationalism and recovering a “Christian Civilization”Christian Nationalism is a political strategy“ I don't think anybody … believes for a second that Donald Trump, or Vladimir Putin, or for that matter, Viktor Orban are serious Christians by any reasonable definition of that term.”“White-supremicism in more acceptable garb.”Losers of free market economicsFree Market Capitalism and erosion of social bonds and relationshipsStrong borders, blood and soilFear of immigrantsTrustWhat is the deeply felt need of someone who comes to identify as a Christian Nationalist?Human needs threatened by social instability and inequalityLip service for the sake of powerWhat “Christian” does next to “Nationalism”Trump embraces Nationalism for himselfGlobalism vs NationalismSecond Iraq War as a mistake“Proponents are not religious in the conventional sense”“ When we're talking about Christian nationalism, we have to first and foremost recognize that we're talking about a different understanding of Christianity than what Americans are accustomed to seeing as the dominant understanding of what that term signifies.”The crucial distinction between Religions of Power and Religions of MoralityPowerful protector“Modern-day Cyrus”—The comparison between Trump and the biblical figure of CyrusWhat is religion? What kind of religion is operative in Christian Nationalism?”It is not just centered in evangelicalism anymore.”First Things and Catholic IntegralismNew Apostolic ReformationDominion Theology“This is about occupying institutions, seizing power, and using the state to impose a particular vision and a particular hierarchy.”Jan 6, 2021Rising paganism in America“How could Christians embrace Trump?”Merging of Shamanism and Christianity on Jan 6Trancendental versus immanent versions of ChristianityNeo-paganism and magical understandings of the worldConcerns and hope as Trump takes office in January 2025Further toward the politics of grievance and victimization“Trump as a backstop”Israel's relianceCan Trump negotiate international peace?“The cynical side of me says  my greatest hope lies in Trump's failures.”Hope for more careful, nuanced conversations about Christian NationalismProduction NotesThis podcast featured Eliyahu Stern and Philip GorskiEdited and Produced by Evan RosaHosted by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Zoë Halaban, Macie Bridge, Alexa Rollow, and Emily BrookfieldA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

A Political Science major and an Anthropology major walk into a bar, what do you think they're talking about on the first week of November? Bay and Laura delve into areas of expertise they haven't mined in awhile, discussing the concept of civil religion and other matters. This episode was recorded before November 5.

Unfortunately, CJ did not have time to do both an election episode & a Halloween episode this year, so he opted for the latter. (Next October, assuming the DHP is still around & CJ isn't a homeless beggar, and assuming World War 3 and/or Civil War 2 aren't disrupting everything, CJ will do Halloween DHP episodes again!) In this off-the-cuff episode, CJ shares some thoughts and historical perspective on the imminent presidential election, viewed primarily through the lens of two important concepts in American political history that he's covered multiple times on the DHP over the years; namely, civil religion & party systems. Links Sign up for CJ's Decline & Fall of the Soviet Empire Dangerous History Live-Ceum course via Indiegogo today! Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Fountain (Archetopical is also on Fountain, so you can support CJ's other show there, too) CJ's Public Key on Nostr: npub16p7um8jgaz7yzzk8j28v7jxf3zg2cferms7f282yzrf0mm0usv3q9ecmt7 Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Other ways to support the show Get CJ's Dangerous American History Bibliography FREE Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z

Here are a couple of resources that helped us: http://www.robertbellah.com/articles_5.htm#_edn8 American Gospel Music: Little Lily Swing, Tri-Tachyon, Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International, https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Tri-Tachyon/the-kleptotonic-ep/little-lily-swing Sorry, Comfort Fit, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Germany (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 DE), https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Comfort_Fit/Forget_And_Remember/03_Sorry

Excerpt:Contrary to Sen. Hawley, Augustine was not founding Christian nationalism when he wrote City of God, and it was not a book recommending some heartwarming but undefined “mutual love.” As with the ashes of the Roman Empire which Augustine was addressing, so today the real question we face as a nation is* * *Support Warhorn here.Music is Rise Up, O Lord, a recording of Psalm 10 by My Soul Among Lions.

With the 4th of July being celebrated this week, Pastor Arik uses the opportunity to examine the dangers of civil religion and why we need to be intentional about what becomes an object of our worship.

#Londinium90AD: The fading of the civil religion of D-Day . Michael Vlahos. Friends of History Debating Society. @Michalis_Vlahos 1944 June 6 Omaha Beach in late afternoon

  Let's come together on Memorial day and have church lift us. First Unitarian Church of Dallas is devoted to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. We have been a voice of progressive religion in Dallas since 1899, working toward a more just and compassionate world in all of what we do.   We hope that when you come here your life is made more whole through experiences of love and service, spiritual growth, and an open exploration of the divine. Learn more at https://dallasuu.org/   New sermon every week. Subscribe here: https://tinyurl.com/1stchurchyoutubesubscribe Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1stuchurch/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stUChurch Watch the livestream on Sundays at 9:30am, 11am, & 7pm CST: https://dallasuu.org/live/ Œ

Award-winning author, journalist, and fellow podcaster Brian T. Kaylor joins Ken to talk about his soon-to-be-released (June 6, 2024) book, Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism. Brian adds a significant contribution to the discussion about the pervasive Christian Nationalism so prevalent today - the movement that became highly visible in the January 6th assault on our nation's Capitol. It's a little-discussed fact that the foundation for Christian Nationalism was laid by the “Seven Sisters” - the mainline denominations that far and away dominated the American religious scene before the explosion of evangelical denominations in the 1960s and 70s. Brian Kaylor asserts that despite its spurious claim, “Christian Nationalism isn't Christian.” Ken and Brian unpack this thesis and review his well-researched, compelling book. They discuss Robert Bellah's “Civil Religion” and the prescient warnings from Paul Tillich and H. Richard Niebuhr. Other topics include The National Prayer Breakfast, The Family, St. John's Episcopal Church (“The President's Church”), the National Cathedral, and traditional hymnology (including the prolific hymns written by Fanny Crosby). All of this has culminated in MAGA Trumpism and the complete takeover of the Republican Party. The American Flag and the Christian Flag have been standards in mainline denominational churches throughout out history - the Confederate Flag, too. Kaylor draws on Greg Boyd's Myth of a Christian Nation to underscore the vast difference between the biblical notion of the Kingdom of God and America as the New Israel. SHOW NOTESBecome a Patron | Ken's Substack PageSupport the Show.

Embark on a profound journey through the tapestry of American religious history with Joel Harrison, associate professor of religion, and his sharp students, Jason Armstrong and Christian Oppenhagen. Together, we unravel the complex narratives of civil religion and secularism, with a particular lens on the interplay of race and religion since the colonial era. Our conversation pivots around Joel's innovative teaching methods, as he leverages the January 6th insurrection as a vivid case study in his Religion 100 course at Northern Virginia Community College, engaging students with the pressing relevance of historical events in shaping today's religious and political landscapes.Witness firsthand the transformative power of academic discourse as it escapes the confines of lecture halls and influences the broader world. The Doctrine of Discovery conference epitomizes scholarship's potency in initiating societal reflection and change, a revelation deeply felt by attendees like Jason. The connections forged among participants of various backgrounds underscore the role of academia in facilitating a collective confrontation with our intricate historical legacies. These moments serve as catalysts for personal growth and cultural respect, sparking an appreciation for the diverse tapestry that is our shared human experience.Finally, we navigate the profound relationship between land, heritage, and identity, acknowledging the stark repercussions of European conquest on indigenous communities. Chris shares his enlightening experiences from the conference, inspiring a broader discussion on the primacy of land identity within indigenous culture and the importance of understanding our ancestral ties. Through this revelation, we are reminded of the enduring significance of our roots and the narrative of who we are, ensuring the past is not merely history—but a compass that guides our ongoing quest for understanding and empathy.Support the showView the transcript and show notes at podcast.doctrineofdiscovery.org. Learn more about the Doctrine of Discovery on our site DoctrineofDiscovery.org.

Welcome to our first episode of 2024! Joining us in the Greenhouse for an MLK Day special, we have Professor Hajar Yazdiha to discuss her book The Struggle for The People's King, a book that seems to have captured the entire spirit of everything we try to talk about here on Greenhouse Gaslighting when it comes to the strategic use of political rhetoric and social iconography, as well as the manipulation and distortion of collective memory when it comes to our shared history. Plugs from today's episode https://www.zinnedproject.org/ https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ Follow Hajar's work at: https://www.hajaryazdiha.com/ Check out The Struggle for The People's King: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691246475/the-struggle-for-the-peoples-king Referenced Books/Articles/Media from the episode: Robert Bellah's Civil Religion in America - http://www.robertbellah.com/articles_5.htm Hajar's piece in the LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-08-28/march-on-washington-martin-luther-king-racial-progress-black-americans Civil Racism by Lynn Mie Itagaki Prophet of Discontent by Jared A. Loggins and Andrew J. Douglas As always - our links available at https://linktr.ee/greenhousegaslighting End: Excerpt from MartinLuther King Jr.'s speech titled The Three Evils of Society (1987): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8d-IYSM-08

In this episode, Jackson sits down with Author and Historian Chris Birkett to discuss his new book with Mercer University Press 'Bill Clinton at the Church of Baseball: The Presidency, Civil Religion, and the National Pastime in the 1990s'. Throughout this episode, Chris details Clinton's various struggles and scandals during the decade and how he used Baseball to try and improve his image, he also tells us about the different scandals that were affecting Baseball in the 1990s and how that reflected American society. To grab a copy of Chris's book head to: https://www.mupress.org/Bill-Clinton-at-the-Church-of-Baseball-The-Presidency-Civil-Religion-and-the-National-Pastime-in-the-1990s-P1244.aspxTo keep up to date with Chris head to his X/Twitter https://x.com/inevermentionit?s=20 or his LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-birkett-4b25a410/If you want to get in touch with History with Jackson email: jackson@historywithjackson.co.ukTo support History with Jackson to carry on creating content subscribe to History with Jackson+ on Apple Podcasts or become a supporter on Buy Me A Coffee: https://bmc.link/HistorywJacksonTo catch up on everything to do with History with Jackson head to www.HistorywithJackson.co.ukFollow us on Facebook at @HistorywithJacksonFollow us on Instagram at @HistorywithJacksonFollow us on X/Twitter at @HistorywJacksonFollow us on TikTok at @HistorywithJackson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode will be easier to follow if you have recently listened to our previous Thanksgiving Sidebar, "Notes on Thanksgiving." Thanksgiving is less historically genuine than many Americans were led to believe.  The Thanksgiving story, as it was long taught in school, was constructed to achieve a purpose: the unification of an increasingly diverse country around a national story. It worked incredibly well. Italians, Irish, eastern Europeans, and other immigrants who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th century learned a version of our national origin story in a celebration of community that brought the country together when it very much needed it. But that success came at a price – it could and did alienate at least some of our people who were descended from North America's indigenous peoples, including especially tribes of New England.  The success of Thanksgiving in binding together an ever more diverse country and the alienation of people who do not celebrate the European settlement of North America is the story of this episode. X (Twitter): @TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook: The History of the Americans Podcast Selected references for this episode Sidebar: Notes on Thanksgiving (Encore Presentation) Elizabeth Pleck, "The Making of the Domestic Occasion: The History of Thanksgiving in the United States," Journal of Social History, Summer 1999. Jana Weiss, "The National Day of Mourning: Thanksgiving, Civil Religion, and American Indians," Amerikastudien / American Studies, 2018. Christopher Hitchens, "The Turkey Has Landed," The Wall Street Journal, November 23, 2005. Freedom from Want The Mayflower Compact Occupation of Alcatraz National Day of Mourning Red Power Movement The Nation, "Should America Keep Celebrating Thanksgiving?" James Lee West, "A Native American Reflects on Thanksgiving"

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Londinium90AD: D-Day and the American Civil Religion Michael Vlahos. Friends of History Debating Society. https://www.agonmag.com/p/the-demon-in-americas-sacred-narrative

Today on TSQ, Matt talks about a very powerful force in American life:  The American Civil Religion.  This is not a new concept, but it is one that isn't discussed as much as it used to be.  A  civil religion is a phenomenon whereby the nominally secular state takes on things normally associated with organized religion, such as dogmas, holy sites or shrines, sermons, incantations and prayers.  It's creepy as all get out, and should offend us all, whether we are religious or not.Robert Bellah's Articlehttp://www.robertbellah.com/articles_5.htmTragedy of US Foreign Policy Bookhttps://www.fpri.org/books/tragedy-us-foreign-policy-americas-civil-religion-betrayed-national-interest/#:~:text=the%20National%20Interest-,The%20Tragedy%20of%20U.S.%20Foreign%20Policy%3A%20How%20America's,Religion%20Betrayed%20the%20National%20Interest&text=Pulitzer%20Prize%E2%80%93winning%20historian%20Walter,foreign%20policy%20ever%20since%201776 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit statistquo.substack.com

Leftists often accuse Pro Life Christians or Christian Nationalists of being involved in a “civil religion” in which they fuse religion and politics in a way that compromises the church. The truth is, there is a civil religion but the Left is not only complicit in it, in some ways they've created it. Dr. Richard Gamble from Hillsdale College explains what American Civil Religion is and where it comes from. To support this content: https://www.worldviewconversation.com/support/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is part 7 of the Early Church History class. Philo of Alexandria was the most well-known representative of Hellenistic Judaism in the first century. His many books combine Platonism with scripture via allegory--a daring project that had a massive influence on Christian thinkers. Clement of Alexandria followed in Philo's footsteps a century later, doing for the Christian scriptures what Philo had done for the Jewish bible. In addition to covering these two we'll take a couple of detours to learn about the city of Alexandria as well as a few of Plato's important ideas. Although overlooked today in most discussions of the history of Christology, Philo and Clement lay the foundations upon which Origen, the Cappodocians, and Augustine would build generations later. Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WijYP1cGJlI&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=7 —— Links —— More Restitutio resources on Christian history More classes here Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here —— Notes —— Alexandria (founded 331BC) named after Alexander the Great capital of Egypt for a millennium (until the Muslims came in 641) still the largest city on the Mediterranean had the Pharos light house (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world) had a massive world-famous library port city providing grain to Rome center of philosophical learning diverse and populous metropolis Philo of Alexandria (20 BC – AD 50) Jewish Platonist philosopher heavily influenced by Plato The true realm is the upper, spiritual, invisible world. (Allegory of the Cave) A craftsman created our world based on the pattern of the eternal realm. (Timaeus) Our souls are immortal and will escape our bodies at death, enabling us to perceive the eternal, unchanging realm. (Phaedo) applied allegorical interpretation method to the Old Testament (LXX) Logos God's organ to create and govern universe second place next to God God is the Father and wisdom [Sophia] is the mother of the Word [Logos] Clement of Alexandria (AD 150 – 215) grew up non-Christians traditional religion mystery religion schools of philosophy found Pantaenus to teach him books Protrepticus (Exhortation to Greeks) c. 195 Paedagogus (Tutor or Educator) c. 198 Stromata (Miscellanies) c. 203 Who Is the Rich Man Who Will Be Saved? beliefs heavily influenced by Plato and Philo Ideal Christian is “the gnostic”; try to “out gnostic” the Gnostics and take the label back. concerned about the whole Christian life, not just beliefs seeking pleasure is sin Wine is ok in strict moderation. Laughter should be controlled. esotericism (especially in the Stromata) Christology God is the unknowable, supreme, unbegotten one. The Son “is nearest to him who is alone the Almighty One”. The Logos is chief among God's saints who, like us, worships God. “Thus the idea of the Logos is the centre of Clement's theological system and of all his religious thinking. However, the supreme idea in Christian thought is not the idea of the Logos but the idea of God.”[1] legacy set the precedent for combining Platonism with the Bible through the use of allegory, a strategy that came to dominate for centuries became the teacher of Origen who, as we'll see in our next session, was the most influential Christian theologian of the third century was regarded as a saint by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, but then they changed their minds Review Alexandria, Egypt was a major metropolis from which not only grain but philosophical ideas spread to the Mediterranean world. Philo was a first-century Jew who applied Middle Platonism to the Old Testament via allegory. Influenced by Plato's Timaeus, Philo used the concept of Logos to separate the high God from creation. For Philo the Logos was God's organ to create and govern the world. Clement of Alexandria drew upon Philo's work and applied it to the New Testament. Clement wanted Christians to live in a proper and moderate manner. In an effort to show the supremacy of Christianity, Clement attempted to out-gnostic the Gnostics, labelling the enlightened Christian "the gnostic.“ For Clement, the Logos is subordinate to the Father, who alone is the true God. He might have believed that the Logos existed eternally as God's high priest. [1] Johannes Quasten, Patrology, vol 2 (Notre Dame, IN: Christian Classics, Ave Maria Press, 1983), 23.

In this episode, Dr. Glenn Moots and I discuss several related aspects of Christianity and politics. We dive into Moots's history in the church and academy while exploring his understanding of Christian Reconstructionism. We get into the topic of Christian Nationalism and a state church. We dig into the magisterial protestant perspective on Christianity and politics and what it has to offer us today. What is the relationship of the church and state? What would America look like if Christian Nationalists had their way? What place would Baptists have in a magisterial Protestant nation? Why is choosing between religious pluralism and establishment a false dilemma?Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/chasedavis“How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Christian Nationalism” - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v-utekNec80&feature=emb_titleGlenn Moots on Althusius - https://lawliberty.org/classic/rereading-politica-in-the-post-liberal-moment/“Politics Reformed” - https://amzn.to/3FKBZZf“Justifying Revolution: Law, Virtue, and Violence in the American War of Independence” - https://amzn.to/3fxS0qXLaw and Liberty - Moots - https://lawliberty.org/author/glenn-moots/Support the showSign up for the Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/chasedavisFollow Full Proof Theology on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fullprooftheology/Follow Full Proof Theology on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fullprooftheology/

Does voting count as a religious act—especially if you go behind a curtain to do it? We discuss a candidate's wife recently declaring that she and her husband “love Israel more than a lot of Jews do,” and the authoritative, beguiling voice of the possibly-once-Buddhist Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. Civil Religion: http://www.robertbellah.com/articles_5.htm Oregon Mail Voting: https://www.multco.us/elections/brief-history-vote-mail-oregon 054 THE HEX (Anti-Trump Witches vs. Paula White and angels from Africa): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FbVST1Cj30XBxE0Sq3lNJ; https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/054-the-curse-witches-hex-trump-paul-white-cain/id1428037534?i=1000498344437 Brazil election as holy war: https://religionnews.com/2022/10/28/presidential-standoff-becomes-a-holy-war-in-brazil/Doug & Rebbie Mastriano: https://twitter.com/jacobkornbluh/status/1586520983036481536 Charismatics & the Shofar: https://politicaltheology.com/the-trump-shall-sound-politics-pentecostals-and-the-shofar-at-the-capitol-riots/ Kari Lake was a Buddhist? https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/obama-backing-arizona-news-anchor-became-trumps-pick-governor-rcna38985Kari Lake disputes that she was ever a Buddhist: https://youtu.be/mmA2mXbkzrs

The topic of Christian nationalism has been much in the news recently. Republican politicians like Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia both have claimed the term as their own, and Boebert in particular has loudly proclaimed that she does not believe in the separation of church and state. “I'm tired of this separation of church and state junk,” she said. “The church is supposed to direct the government; the government is not supposed to direct the church.”Perhaps the most aggressive Christian nationalist, despite his protestations about the term, is Pennsylvania's Doug Mastriano, a state senator who is the Republican nominee for governor in that state. Listen to Mastriano's comments in a 2021 zoom call a week before the January 6 insurrection, in which he baptizes conspiracy theories and his political will to power in the language of spiritual righteousness.That call was organized by a man named Jim Garlow, who is reportedly influential in something called the New Apostolic Reformation, which is a loosely connected network of men and women who call themselves apostles and prophets. These self-proclaimed divine emissaries claim that God speaks to them uniquely, and they claim authority over other people based on these grounds.Here's another example of the growing fusion throughout the country between religion and politics, in a way that confuses the two as one and the same rather than understanding them as separate but enhanced by one another if cross-pollinated in healthy ways. This is audio of an event this past July 1 in Atlanta, Georgia, in which two major figures in the NAR -- Lance Wallnau and Dutch Sheets, along with two other men, Mario Murillo and Hank Kunnemman, according to Jennifer Cohn of the Bucks County Beacon -- lead an audience in a vow to take over the U.S. government and impose a theocracy.Philip S. Gorski is an expert on Christian nationalism. He is the author of "The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy," along with Samuel L. Perry, a professor at Oklahoma University. Gorski is a sociology professor at Yale University and is the author of American Babylon: Christianity and Democracy Before and After Trump and American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present.Gorski has written this of Christian nationalism: it is "political idolatry dressed as religious orthodoxy."We talk about the ways that sometimes the term is used imprecisely to condemn anyone who is a Christian, and I ask him to help us explain the ways that political extremism, especially the growing willingness to discard democracy and pursue authoritarianism, can be motivated by this belief system.You can also check out David French's interview with Paul D. Miller about this topic here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Most Americans were shocked by the violence they witnessed at the nation's Capital on January 6th, 2021," as the description of Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry's new book, The Flag and the Cross, notes. "And many were bewildered by the images displayed by the insurrectionists: a wooden cross and wooden gallows; "Jesus saves" and "Don't Tread on Me;" Christian flags and Confederate Flags; even a prayer in Jesus' name after storming the Senate chamber. Where some saw a confusing jumble," though, Gorski and Perry "saw a familiar ideology: white Christian nationalism." In this episode of The Marc Steiner Show, Marc speaks with Gorski and Perry about their book, the white identity politics of Christian nationalism, and the deep political roots of today's reactionary Christian right. Philip S. Gorski, Professor of Sociology at Yale University, is a comparative and historical sociologist who writes on religion and politics in early modern and modern Europe and North America. He is the author of numerous books, including American Babylon: Christianity and Democracy Before and After Trump and American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present. Samuel L. Perry, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oklahoma, is a sociologist of American religion, race, politics, sexuality, and families. He has authored and co-authored numerous books, including Growing God's Family, Addicted to Lust, and Taking America Back for God. Tune in for new episodes of The Marc Steiner Show every Monday on TRNN, and subscribe to the TRNN YouTube channel for video versions of The Marc Steiner Show podcast.Studio: Dwayne GladdenPost-Production: Stephen FrankHelp us continue producing The Marc Steiner Show by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer:Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod-mssSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-pod-stGet The Marc Steiner Show updates: https://therealnews.com/up-pod-stLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

"Most Americans were shocked by the violence they witnessed at the nation's Capital on January 6th, 2021," as the description of Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry's new book, The Flag and the Cross, notes. "And many were bewildered by the images displayed by the insurrectionists: a wooden cross and wooden gallows; "Jesus saves" and "Don't Tread on Me;" Christian flags and Confederate Flags; even a prayer in Jesus' name after storming the Senate chamber. Where some saw a confusing jumble," though, Gorski and Perry "saw a familiar ideology: white Christian nationalism." In this episode of The Marc Steiner Show, Marc speaks with Gorski and Perry about their book, the white identity politics of Christian nationalism, and the deep political roots of today's reactionary Christian right. Philip S. Gorski, Professor of Sociology at Yale University, is a comparative and historical sociologist who writes on religion and politics in early modern and modern Europe and North America. He is the author of numerous books, including American Babylon: Christianity and Democracy Before and After Trump and American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present. Samuel L. Perry, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oklahoma, is a sociologist of American religion, race, politics, sexuality, and families. He has authored and co-authored numerous books, including Growing God's Family, Addicted to Lust, and Taking America Back for God. Tune in for new episodes of The Marc Steiner Show every Monday on TRNN, and subscribe to the TRNN YouTube channel for video versions of The Marc Steiner Show podcast.Studio: Dwayne GladdenPost-Production: Stephen FrankHelp us continue producing The Marc Steiner Show by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer:Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-pod-mssSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/nl-pod-stGet The Marc Steiner Show updates: https://therealnews.com/up-pod-stLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

This week Australians have commemorated Anzac Day, again remembering the sacrifice of those in war. But is it more than that? What began in Gallipoli in WWI has now become sacred.

This week Australians have commemorated Anzac Day, again remembering the sacrifice of those in war. But is it more than that? What began in Gallipoli in WWI has now become sacred.

This week Australians have commemorated Anzac Day, again remembering the sacrifice of those in war. But is it more than that? What began in Gallipoli in World War One has now become sacred, as Dr Michael Gladwin explains.

Kyle Worley is joined by Dr. John Wilsey to answer the question what is Civil Religion?Questions Covered in This Episode:What is Civil Religion?Is Civil Religion unavoidable?Is it good or bad as it pertains to the Christian Story and meaningful participation in it?How is Civil Religion different from Christian Nationalism?Guest Bio:Dr. John Wilsey is Associate Professor of Church History and Philosophy at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author of One Nation Under God: An Evangelical Critique of Christian America and American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea, and the recently released God's Cold Warrior: The Life and Faith of John Foster Dulles.Helpful Definitions:Civil Religion: A set of practices, symbols, and beliefs distinct from traditional religion yet providing a universal values paradigm around which the citizenry can unite.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:“American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion” By John WilseyAmazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Knowing Faith.Sponsors:Explore the Southern Seminary degree programs designed to equip you be more effective in full-time ministry or as a lay leader: SBTS.EDU/EXPLOREFollow Us:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteSupport Knowing Faith and Become a Patron:patreon.com/knowingfaith

Erin L. Thompson talks about monuments, and their role in American public life. Public art intervenes in directly in politics, shaping social behavior in the present. Monuments, in her account, are a bid for immortality that says “this is how things are” but often means “this is how things should be.” In the episode she […]

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R. R. Reno is joined by Alexander Riley and Mark Bauerlein for a special holiday discussion of civil religion, Thanksgiving, and the American founding.

R. R. Reno is joined by Alexander Riley and Mark Bauerlein for a special holiday discussion of civil religion, Thanksgiving, and the American founding.

What might it mean to "prep" and "fast" in a world of disruptions? Over the last year and a half, so many lives have been disrupted, damaged or even ended by the SARS-CoV-2 "pandemic"—indeed, each of us has been affected to some to degree or other—and many vested interests seem intent on ensuring that the disruptions will continue into the forseeable future. So, how might the believer in God—and specifically the Christian—best react to this situation? We are joined by Jeremiah Allen, a Christian entrepreneur now living in Belize, who testifies to the ways in which God has used disruptions in his life—military deployment in Iraq, the 2011 Japanese earthquake, and going down the proverbial "rabbit hole" in response to media lies—to bring him closer to Christ and develop within him a desire for Christian ministry. Drawing upon these experiences, Jeremiah encourages us to "live a life of fasting" (which might, or might not, involve fasting!) and "prep" in anticipation of life's disruptions—spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically—while always "leaning on" the One who made us. "Jeremiah is a 41-year-old former US Army soldier and Iraqi war veteran ('04-'05). After leaving military service, he worked as a Computer Network Security Expert for the US Missile Defense Agency. In 2013, he left his lucrative career and relocated his wife & two children to pursue ministry in Belize as an entrepreneur. Jeremiah is passionate about Jesus and sharing the Good News with others by living out the Great Commission in everyday life." For show notes please visit https://themindrenewed.com

In this episode Rabbi Abram and Reverend Matt argue over the dangers and benefits of civil religion. They also add a new segment called religious toolbox where Matt offers Christian tools on why one should get vaccinated.

Everyone's Wilson's Daryl Crouch talks about the ways praying together can be transformative for individuals and societies.  Uneasy Citizenship blogger and political scientist Daniel Bennett responds to an NPR report on the concept of civil religion, plus other news headlines around the intersection of faith and culture.

Everyone's Wilson's Daryl Crouch talks about the ways praying together can be transformative for individuals and societies.  Uneasy Citizenship blogger and political scientist Daniel Bennett responds to an NPR report on the concept of civil religion, plus other news headlines around the intersection of faith and culture.

It has been noted that religion was prominent at President Joe Biden's inauguration, as it often is at presidential inaugurations, in traditional ways: the oath of office was taken with the president's hand on the family bible; the invocation was offered by a Catholic priest, the benediction by an African Methodist Episcopal Church pastor; musical numbers with threads of religion in them, including Amazing Grace, were performed; and Old Testament scripture and God were invoked by President Biden in his address. Yet, religious tests for public office are banned by the Constitution, America may have no state church, and we are sensitive to the intertwining of government and religion. Adding to that mix, the Pew Research Center reported a few years ago that “the U.S. is steadily becoming less Christian and less religiously observant” AND there is a fully developed idea in the public square, that religion is part of, not a solution to, America's problems. “American Civil Religion” (in quotations), the idea that a nonsectarian quasi-religious faith exists within the U.S. with sacred symbols drawn from national history, may be helpful to us at our present moment in American history. We can use it as a lens to view the recent inauguration and our current politics generally, as we participate in the American experiment in self-government, founded 245 years ago, saved 156 years ago, and work to see it successfully extended into the future for ourselves and children. What are we to think of American Civil Religion? What is its history? What does it mean? How does it motivate us? What are the ramifications? Is it on the upswing or is it fading away? What has it done to us? What does it do to us? How does it drive our behavior, political or otherwise? Today's panel consists of four scholars who will help us with these questions: Dr. Nichole R. Phillips is Associate Professor in the Practice of Sociology of Religion and Culture, Director of the Black Church Studies Program at Emory University; and author of Patriotism Black and White: The Color of American Exceptionalism. Dr. Philip Gorski is Professor of Sociology at Yale University and author of American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present Dr. John Carlson is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Arizona State University where he directs the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. He is co-editor of From Jeremiad to Jihad: Religion, Violence and America. Dr. Lisa Barnett is Assistant Professor of American Religious History at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The January 6th insurrection at the nation's capital that resulted in the impeachment of Donald Trump depicted the characteristics of a religion more than a political position. Prof. Gloria Moran discusses American civic religion from a legal and historical perspective, tracing its roots to its the Roman Empire.

Current events have stirred up passionate debates about Trump, religion, the church and the nation. A central issue is Christian Nationalism… so we unpack what it is, and how the Bible might help us navigate the issues. This week we recommended lots of interesting books: Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John Fea Taking America Back for God by Whitehead and Perry The Myth of a Christian Nation by Gregory Boyd American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion by Wilsey and Fea America's Religious History by Kidd Divided by Faith by Emerson and Smith ---------- Thanks for listening to this episode of the House of Learning podcast. This podcast is produced by A Jesus Church College, based at Westside: A Jesus Church in Portland Oregon. AJC College train and mobilize the next generation of Kingdom leaders through an accredited four-year degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Leadership and Formation, combining classroom learning with mentoring and ministry apprenticeship, for a third of the cost of traditional college. To find out more, go to ajccollege.org, or follow us on Instagram or Facebook, to find out if this is where God could be calling you to explore your calling. If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review, subscribe, and share with someone. And if you have a question you'd like us to chat about, please let us know! You can email us at podcast@ajccollege.org. If you can, send us a 20 second audio recording saying who you are and where you are from, along with your question, and we'd love to include it in a future episode.

The better we understand higher education, the better we can navigate the university years well and flourish in both heart and mind. My guest today is a historian who understands the forces that caused and continue to shape higher education. He also has a wide range of experience working in higher education, giving him unusual insights into how universities work today, and how students can avoid the pitfalls as well as capitalize on the opportunities universities offer. Liam J. Atchison, Ph.D. has a Th.M. in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in History from Kansas State University. For many years he was a university and seminary professor and dean.  He was also the founding editor of the literary journal Mars Hill Review, co-editor of Civil Religion and American Christianity (Newport: Stone Tower Press, 2020), and is the author of two other books and numerous articles. His research has been in the history of ideas with a particular interest in politics, education, and how people understand and use written texts. He was also the founder and co-director of Emmanuel House, a seminary in Manhattan, Kansas. Liam now serves as the Senior Vice-President of Global Scholars. He is married and has two children and three grandchildren. In this podcast we discuss:  How universities first began How universities changed in the 19th century into what they are today How the goal of higher education shifted from developing character to developing skills How these factors shaped U.S. higher education Why state universities were established The pros and cons of higher education's shift in emphasis to "practical" fields Why we shouldn't be too impressed by a university's ranking The reasons professors are often not good teachers (especially at larger universities) Why smaller schools should be considered for undergraduate degrees The value of the ACT/SAT in today's higher education, and why they are often not the best indicators of academic ability or success When, why, and how universities shifted how they understand their role related to students and parents Why higher education in the 20th century moved away from more traditional views and values The idea of a university, and how best to prepare so as to receive the greatest benefits from a university education The pros and cons of a "Great Books" curriculum at universities The difference between a college and a university, and why universities contain some colleges The hierarchy of a university, and where to go for help Resources mentioned during our conversation: Norman Geiser and Ronald Brooks, Come Let Us Reason Together: An Introduction to Logical Thinking  Thinking Christianly blog series on informal fallacies, beginning here Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic (includes sections of informal and formal logic) 

American Civil Religion is something that we engage in culturally that sounds a lot like Christianity but isn't. Learn what civil religion is and how it is used in our political discourse to confuse both believers and non-believers in Christ. Remain hopeful that with knowledge and truth, we will be able to overcome counterfeit gospels and find balance in being patriotic at the same time.Books:Color of Compromise #adGood or God #adDocumentaries:The Story of EuropeThe American GospelArticles & Other Resources Jesus or the Flag? Letter from the Birmingham JailPaul's letter to the American ChristiansAge of ReasonJefferson's BibleFollow on IG/FB @culturalchristianityAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Support the show (https://cash.app/$erikasahm)

We are joined once again by J. Michael Bennett, PhD—a.k.a. "Dr Future" of the classic Future Quake radio show (2005-2012)—for Part Two of a conversation on his challenging book, "Two Masters and Two Gospels, Volume 1 : The Teaching of Jesus Vs. the “Leaven of the Pharisees” in Talk Radio and Cable News". In the first conversation we talked about the spiritual and political aspects of his book. In this second conversation Dr. Bennett shares with us some of the historical data supporting the arguments in his book, some of which are quite eye-opening. J. Michael Bennett holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and worked as a US Defense Department scientist, successful high-tech inventor and entrepreneur. For several years he produced the influential Future Quake show for local radio and the Internet, and his work has been profiled on PBS, CNN and Scientific American. He also served as an invited speaker on religion for a United Nations NGO. He and his wife reside in Nashville, and his books are featured at MikeBennettBooks.com. For show notes please visit https://themindrenewed.com

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”—LK 16:13 (NIV) We are joined by J. Michael Bennett, PhD—a.k.a. "Dr Future" of the classic Future Quake radio show (2005-2012)—for part one of a conversation on his challenging, controversial, yet timely and necessary book, "Two Masters and Two Gospels, Volume 1 : The Teaching of Jesus Vs. the “Leaven of the Pharisees” in Talk Radio and Cable News", published by Akribos Press. In this first chat, we also take the opportunity to discuss the excellent documentary that Dr. Bennett co-produced, which—in the manner of a gripping whodunnit—sleuths out and answers key mysteries surrounding the enigmatic Georgia Guidestones, sometimes referred to as an "American Stonehenge". J. Michael Bennett holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and worked as a US Defense Department scientist, successful high-tech inventor and entrepreneur. For several years he produced the influential Future Quake show for local radio and the Internet, and his work has been profiled on PBS, CNN and Scientific American. He also served as an invited speaker on religion for a United Nations NGO. He and his wife reside in Nashville, and his books are featured at MikeBennettBooks.com. For show notes please visit https://themindrenewed.com

We welcome once again our good friend, the teacher, musician and blogger Antony Rotunno, for the first half of a two-part interview on his latest album Through Life (2019). In this first programme, quite personal at times, we chat about issues related to the music—love and war, inspiration and influence—and play several of the songs. Through Life (2019) and Adventures In Retrospect (2017)—both of which are recommended by TMR—can be heard and purchased via Bandcamp. Antony has joined us several times throughout the life of TMR for conversations on a variety of subjects. [All the songs in this podcast are Copyright © 2019 Antony Rotunno, all rights reserved, and used by TMR with kind permission.] For show notes please visit http://themindrenewed.com

"Christians and Atheists have more in common than you think."—Kandiah We welcome once again the author, activist and theologian Dr. Krish Kandiah, former President of the London School of Theology and Founding Director of Home for Good, a "young charity seeking to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children". Krish joins us to discuss his new book, FAITHEISM, published today by Hodder & Stoughton, which challenges many of the myths about Christianity and Atheism. Rather than being tempted into mutual antagonism or conspiracies of politically-correct silence, Krish suggests that Christians and Atheists alike should embrace a different conversation model—one of self-criticism and mutual understanding (without compromise on fundamental beliefs)—in the hope that meaningful dialogue, and co-operation on matters of shared concern, might characterise the future. (For show notes please visit http://themindrenewed.com)

For TMR 200 we welcome back Mike Hopkins, co-host of Fight the Lies Radio, for a thought-provoking conversation on the subject of conspiracy theories and the Christian believer. Is it wrong, as some suggest, for Christians to believe in conspiracy theories? While this might seem like a strange question to ask on TMR, many today in the wider Christian community—including people in positions of leadership—strongly maintain that a Christian shouldn't entertain such thoughts. But what does this actually mean? Indeed, what are "conspiracy theories"? Are they essentially different from other kinds of belief? And what would make them especially problematic? But are there real dangers lurking here? Might there be, in some cases, good pastoral reasons for giving such advice? And where do we draw our "crazy line"? How might critical worldview thinking help to guard us against the nonsense. "Mike Hopkins was born and raised in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. In 2005 he accepted Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). He has a thirst for truth and for conveying that truth to all who are willing to hear. He and his wife Kelli host their own podcasts at Fight The Lies Network. Mike currently works in the tech industry and lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and their Boston Terrier, Kayla." (For show notes please visit http://themindrenewed.com)

Tensions in America run deep. They exist between the right and the left, between the religious and the secular, and between the rich and the poor. And in recent years, tensions between the citizens at large and their elected officials -- which seem less responsive to the will of the people -- gave rise to a wave of populism like we've rarely seen before.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"American Civil Religion is the most effective rival religion to true Christianity in the US"—Martin Erdmann This week we welcome back theologian and lecturer Dr. Martin Erdmann, Director of the Verax Institute in Greenville, South Carolina, for a challenging yet enlightening discussion on the important subject of American Civil Religion and its unhappy relationship to true Christianity. As a fish is unaware of the water in which it swims, so the majority of Americans do not perceive that there exists in the US today a state religion, incompatible with true Christianity, yet not openly opposed to it. Feeding on the many symbols, events, ideals and heroes of America's history and public life, and borrowing from the language and metaphors of Christianity, this state religion vies for the allegiance of every citizen. Arguing that every state cultivates its own particular brand of civil religion, Dr. Erdmann encourages us to stand firm when our allegiance to Christ is challenged by the state, and advises us to remain vigilant as we approach the days of a global civil religion. (For show notes please visit http://themindrenewed.com)